Gators 'embarrassed' by lopsided loss to Miami

GAINESVILLE -- Top-ranked Miami exposed all of Florida's weaknesses. The Hurricanes were so good, they might even have the Gators questioning some of their strengths.

Florida couldn't stop running back Willis McGahee, struggled badly on special teams, got virtually no pressure on Florida quarterback Ken Dorsey and gave its own QB, Rex Grossman, little time to pass.

The result was Florida's worst home loss since 1979, a 41-16 drubbing Saturday night that could have been worse.

"The mood was just like you would expect: embarrassed," first-year coach Ron Zook said Sunday. "When you get your tail kicked like that, you don't feel good. And I don't want them to feel good. You're not supposed to feel good about that. But these guys have done everything we've asked them to do since we've been here. There's no reason for me to feel like they're not now.

"We're going to go back to work this week, and we're going to make improvements. We're going to get better."

Few Gators passed the early-season test, especially Grossman.

Under heavy pressure all night, Grossman was 19-of-45 passing for 191 yards and two interceptions.

Under intense scrutiny since replacing Steve Spurrier in January, Zook also must prove he can make it in the big time.

"Obviously, if I'm graded on wins and losses, which is the biggest thing, then I didn't grade out well," he said.

With the lopsided victory, Miami tightened its hold on the No. 1 spot in the Associated Press Top 25 poll, released Sunday. The Hurricanes received 68 of the 74 first-place votes, doubling their total from last week.

No. 2 Oklahoma and No. 3 Texas each got three first-place votes. Florida was the only significant mover in the poll, dropping from No. 6 to No. 12.

The Hurricanes sacked Grossman just once, but they hurried him on nearly every play.

, forcing him to make short drops and quick passes and leaving him no time to find receivers down field.

"If you get pressure like that on the quarterback, I don't care who he is, you are going to get some opportunities if you are doing the right things," Miami coach Larry Coker said Sunday. "We got a lot of pressure, and we were doing the right things in the right places."

McGahee was doing the right things, too, helping the 'Canes gain 300 yards on the ground for the second straight games.

"That's good against air, much less Florida," Coker said.

Although Zook said the game could have been much closer, especially had the Gators scored instead of giving up a 97-yard interception return for a touchdown late in the third quarter that made it 34-16.

Dorsey played one of his worst games as a starter. He threw three interceptions, including two inside Florida's 20-yard line and another one that Bam Hardmon returned 26 yards for a TD.

Miami also has a punt blocked to set up a Florida field goal. But that was minor compared with Florida's problems on special teams. Kicker Matt Leach missed an extra point and a short field goal, and punter Jason Hunter bobbled a snap that gave Miami great field position.

"I think you're going to find out that (Miami) is maybe better than it was last year, if that's possible," Zook said. "They got after us pretty soundly."